Professional development

• Middle Leadership Development Programme
  • Who is MLDP for?
  • Working in a cluster
  • Programme details
  • Role of the lead organisation
  • Role of the facilitator
  • Role of the learning coach
  • Credits towards other qualifications
  • Costs
  • Apply
  • Case studies

Role of the facilitator in the Middle Leadership Development Programme

The role of the facilitator is critical to the Middle Leadership Development Programme (MLDP) and to the development of current and future leaders in the group (cluster).

Facilitators should:

• design and deliver MLDP training sessions
• support participants, headteachers and learning coaches
• ensure each participant has a learning coach
• provide training for learning coaches
• ensure participants have a clear and focused leadership challenge
• register the whole cluster onto the National College online network

Facilitators are selected by the cluster. They should be senior leaders (for example deputy heads, assistant heads, heads of year or subject) or experienced middle leaders looking to progress to the next stage in their career, selected ideally from within the cluster.

We are funding the training of up to two facilitators per cluster. Clusters may select additional facilitators to attend the training at their expense. Both facilitators must attend the training on the same dates to enable them to plan, develop and co-facilitate the programme.

Facilitators must commit to delivering the programme to two cohorts of middle leaders within two years of completing the training.

• Download a fact sheet on the role of the facilitator.
• Find out more about facilitators' experience of the programme.

Time commitment

The table below outlines the time commitments for facilitators delivering their first cohort. There will also be a time commitment for preparation which varies depending on the individual.

Activity	Approximate time commitment
Registration	30 minutes
Facilitator training	4 days
Assessment event	2 days
Programme delivery	approximately 30 hours
Online facilitation training (optional)	20 hours

Training dates

The table below details upcoming facilitator training sessions and assessment events. If accepted on the programme, facilitators will be allocated on a first come first served basis to their nearest available event. Once events in their region are full, facilitators will be allocated to the earliest event with spaces. All assessment events will be held at our Learning and Conference Centre in Nottingham.

Region	Venue	Facilitator training	Assessment events
South	Bournemouth	5–8 March	20–21 September
Central	National College, Nottingham	12–15 March	18–19 September
North	Weetwood Hall, Leeds	26–29 March	27–28 September
Central	National College, Nottingham	26–29 March	25–26 September
Central	National College, Nottingham	8–11 May	1–2 October
South	Menzies Eastcliff, Bournemouth	14–17 May	9–10 October
North	Weetwood Hall, Leeds	21–24 May	18–19 October
Central	National College, Nottingham	28–31 May	6–7 November

Please read our cancellation policy for guidance if you are unable to attend any of the training or assessment events.